Watch: Booing crowd become clapping fans after Steve Smith goes to pavilion

Mumbai: Steve Smith was phenomenal touch throughout the 2019 Ashes. Although the series ended in a 2-2 draw, Smith produced probably one of the greatest performances in red-ball cricket. So good was his performance, that, the only time he couldn’t score at least a half-century was in his last innings. Smith’s innings of 23 runs was abruptly cut short by a beautiful Stuart Broad delivery, on the fourth day of the fifth Ashes Test.

Steve Smith returned to international cricket to a chorus of boos but he walked off the pitch at the Oval to a standing ovation after a summer of Ashes redemption. He was subjected to boos and negative chants throughout the series by a plethora of English fans. But, in the final match of the series, it was the same group of English fans that applauded him for his phenomenal effort during the entirety of the series.

After being caught out on the fourth day of the final Test by Ben Stokes, he was walking back to the pavilion. At the same moment, the English fans stood up and starting giving him roaring applause.

On the same incident, British broadcaster and journalist, Piers Morgan, tweeted, “BREAKING: Steve Smith is mortal. He was mercilessly booed when he came to England this summer. He departs to a standing ovation. What a player & what an extraordinary rehabilitation. The bat, it transpires, is mightier than the sandpaper.”